What to wear to dinner at oxford formal halls?!?

[Cecinestpasunusername]

I've been invited to michaelmas dinner with dh and have no clue what to wear. Any help or links to appropriate dresses very much appreciated!

Are you invited to ordinary high table, or to some form of one-off special occasion or guest dinner?

It's a one-off special occasion for the start of term for new fellows.

If no formal dress-code is specified, men will be in lounge suits, and academics of both sexes in gowns (which is the way I always approached such things - a gown covers a multitude of sins, baby sick etc ...), based on my old college. I would just wear a nice, low-key dress, nothing spangly or outré. You'll be standing about probably having sherry, then going in to dinner, then port and coffee, most likely. There will be a preponderance of elderly men with egg on their ties and gowns that haven't been laundered since the 50s, so I wouldn't honestly give it too much thought.

I used to wear a succession of wrap dresses or black dresses with a beautiful Diane Von Furstenberg long cardigan (now eaten by moths), because our hall was incredibly draughty.

Something in a dark shade and relatively smart, but don't worry too much. Most halls are drafty so something warm is a good idea. I go for tailored trousers and a smart poloneck. But it really doesn't matter (but you will not be comfortable in a little dress, because no one else will be wearing one!).
Welcome to Oxford! Primary tip: be nice to the servers/stewards in hall, they are good allies to have in college.

If there's no stated dress code then academics will turn up in whatever they were wearing that day and just chuck a gown on top. Their partners will be smart casual - I'd say no jeans, no trainers, nothing scruffy. But you definitely don't want to be too fancy/smart either as you'll stand out.

Thanks a lot for everyone's help. We don't know the dress code as we haven't received formal invitation yet. Does anyone know?!

Dh says unlikely that it'd be formal, so nothing fancy I assume.
Would that sort of dress be appropriate?
www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/BQ028/Womens-Chiswell-Shift.html

I definitely don't want to stand out for being overdressed but don't want to look out of place either!

The dress code will vary a lot between different colleges, so doubtful anybody can tell you what it will be. That Boden dress is nice though

Thanks a lot Shallan, might go for that dress if we don't get the invite soon.

Thanks for the tip thalassa, don't know how many of these dinners I'll be expected to accompany dh to but I'll pass it on to him!

You probably don't want to say which college, but they vary a lot in terms of the formality of formal hall. The invitation may not say anything or only say 'Lounge suits, gowns will be worn' - the 'lounge suits' bit baffled my US friend when he arrived at Pembroke, I think because he was thinking of 'lounge lizards', and didn't think that was a good high table look.

That dress is very nice (though bring a cardigan if your hall is anything like ours), but to be honest, I wouldn't buy anything specially unless you like the dress and want it anyway, until you see what the college norms are - as someone else said, in some colleges, fellows just throw on a gown over the jeans and jumper they've been at the lab in all day. And if the occasion us specifically for new fellows, there will be partners showing up in anything from spangly cocktail numbers to interview suits. Wear something vaguely smart in a subdued colour.

Definitely make friends with the porters too! :)

Thanks a lot talcum! I must admit I giggled reading your posts, you have a good way of making it all sound very ironic. I believe it's the first dinner of term and it's supposed to be of some significance to new fellows of which dh is one.

I just got some birthday money, and nothing appropriate to wear bar a couple of tired work dresses so a purchase is necessary either way. Will hold out for more info.

Thanks IIona for the tip, one can always count on MN for support when needed!